I'd previously missed Michael Chaplin's exhilarating adaptation, first seen in Newcastle, of Chris Mullin's political diaries about life under New Labour. I cannot recommend it too highly. Far from exposing the absurdity of the Westminster village, it shows the urgent need for more independent-minded, non-deferential MPs such as Mullin who put principle before preferment.

Mullin briefly occupied junior ministerial posts before becoming Africa minister at the Foreign Office – despite having voted against the government on Iraq. But, just when he began to feel he was doing something useful, he was sacked by Blair after the 2005 election. One thing that emerges strongly from the show, however, is Mullin's preoccupation with the figure he calls the Man. Mullin is palpably attracted by Blair's charm while being appalled by his enslavement to "the worst American president of my lifetime". But Blair, you feel, also uses Mullin as a moral touchstone and guide to the conscience of the left. One episode also shows a puzzled Mullin being given a cheery wave by George Bush outside the Foreign Office. "I told George," Blair later mischievously reveals, "you were one of his biggest fans."

Blending gossip, insight and details of the frustrations of ministerial and backbench life alike, the show is excellently performed under Max Roberts's direction. John Hodgkinson, with his awkwardly buttoned-up jacket and air of inquisitive bemusement, admirably captures Mullin's mix of decency and self-doubt. The other 60-odd characters are also evoked with lightning skill by Hywel Morgan (an outstanding Blair), Noma Dumezweni, Tracy Gillman and Howard Ward in a piece that shows political theatre at its entertaining best and leaves Mullin asking, rather like Shakespeare in Bond's Bingo, "Was anything done?"